Orthopedic chair with scoliosis pads

ABSTRACT

A pair of laterally and vertically adjustable scoliosis pads are attached to opposite sides of a chair in such position as to provide therapeutic contact with opposite sides of a person seated in the chair for treating curvature of the spine. The pads can be positioned in vertically staggered relationship to develop a therapeutic force couple across the seated person&#39;&#39;s trunk for tending to straighten out the curvature of the spine. A foot rest is attached to the bottom of the chair and two straps are attached at their center portions to the back of the footrest behind the seated person&#39;&#39;s heels. Three brackets having openings therein for receiving portions of the straps are attached in spaced relationship to the top portion of the footrest, one bracket on each side of the seated person&#39;&#39;s feet and one between the seated person&#39;&#39;s feet. The straps may be wound around the seated person&#39;&#39;s ankles, then passed through the openings in the brackets and the loose end fastened to each other on top of the person&#39;&#39;s feet to hold the bottom of the person&#39;&#39;s feet flat on the footrest to correct bent ankles.

PATENTEDJUN H mm 3.815586 SHEU 10F 2 PATENTEDJUM 1 I974 SHEET 2 0F 2 ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR WITH SCOLIOSIS PADS,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to chairs for'invalids and handicapped persons, especially children. The chair is designed for individuals who have an injury or congenital handicap that inhibits or prevents them from walking and necessitates that they be confined to a chair during all or part of their waking hours. Many different types of invalid chairs have been manufactured in the past, but these have been designed primarily to hold the occupant comfortably without regard to any possible therapeutic effect. There are, however, several abnormal conditionsthat can be successfully treated while the patient is seated, and it is an object of this invention to provide an orthopedic chair for treating such condi-' tions. For example, many children are afflicted with scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, and this is a condi tion that can be treated while the child is seated. There is also a tendency for some children to bend their ankles sideways, particularly when they are seated, which prevents their feet from resting flat on the footrest of the chair thay they are seated in. This is also a condition that can be treated while the child is seated.

Accordingly, one object of thisinvention is to provide an orthopedic chair which is adapted to treat curvature of the spine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an orthopedic chair having a pair of scoliosis pads which are adjustably attached to opposite sides of the chair for applying therapeutic pressure to opposite sides of a person seated in the chair.

A further object of this invention is to provide an orthopedtic chair of the above-noted character in which the scoliosis pads can be positioned in vertically staggered relationship to develop a therapeutic force couple across the seated persons trunk for tending to strighten out the curvature of the spine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an orthopedic chair of the above-noted character having a simple, sturdy, and conveniently adjustable means for supporting the scoliosis pads.

A further object of the invention is to provide an-orthopedic chair of the above-noted type in which the back of the chair is adjustable forwardly and backwardly and in which the scoliosis pads are mounted to move with the back.

Another object of this invention is to provide an orthopedic chair of the above-noted type in which the angle of the chair back is adjustable and in which the scoliosis pads can be tilted to match the angle of the back.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an orthopedic chair which is adapted to treat bent ankles.

A further object of this invention is to provide an orthopedic chair having a foot rest that includes a pair of straps attached to the rear of the footrest in such position that they can be wrapped around the ankles of a person seated in the chair, and means for securing the straps to the footrest forholding the bottom of the persons feet flat on the footrest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the above-noted objects are attained by providing an orthopedic chair in which a pair of laterally and vertically adjustable scoliosis pads are attached to opposite sides of the chair in such position as'to provide therapeutic contact with opposite sides of a person seated in'the chair for treating curvature of the spine. In the preferred embodiment. the scoliosis-pads are adjustably attached to brackets which support the back of the chair and are slideable along the arms thereof. A footrest is preferably attached to the bottom of the chair and two straps are preferably attached their centerportions to the back of the footrest behind the seated persons heels. The straps may be wound around the seated persons ankles, and means are provided for securing the loose ends of the straps to the footrest and to each other for holding the seated persons feet flat on the footrest. An adjustable head pad is also provided to coact with the scoliosis pads for exerting therapeutic pressure on the spine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS osis pads being vertically staggered to develop a therapeutic force couple which tends to straighten a curvature of the seated persons spine.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing one of the brackets for slideably supporting the back of the chair shown in FIG. 1 and also showing the opening and adjustment screw in the bracket for supporting the corresponding scoliosis pad.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the bracket shown in'FIG. 4 taken on the line 55 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top view of the footrest shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the footrest shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention,the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1 shows one'illustrative embodiment of the invention which includes four upstanding metal legs 10 that are joined together to form a rigid supporting frame by two metal side cross members or stretchers 12 and a metal rear cross member or stretcher 14, which are welded at their ends to corresponding legs 10, and a front leg and footrest assembly 16, which is swingably joined between the front ends of the two side cross members 12. The assembly 16 includes two metal side members or rails l8'which are rigidly joined together by cross braces that are not visible in the drawings, an upholstered leg pad 20 which is rigidly supported between side rails 18, a footrest 22 which is slideably attached to side rails 18, and a pair of notched adjustment arms 24 which extend rearwardly from corresponding side rails I8'for adjusting the angle of assembly 16. The notches in adjustment 24 engage stationary pins 26 which are supported by arms 28 welded to side cross members 12 and depending downwardly therefrom.

The chair legs are rollably supported on their lower ends by casterwheels 30 and extend upwardly beyond cross members 12 and 14 to support two metal chair arms 32, which are welded across the upper ends of corresponding legs 10 and help to hold the: legs in an upright position. A pair of metal collar brackets 34 are slideably mounted on arms 32 and are adapted to ad justably support a chair back 36 and two scoliosis pad 38 as will be described in detail hereinafter. A push bar 29 is preferably attached to the rear of chair back 36 for pushing the chair, and a headrest or restraint comprising two spaced head pads 40 is supported on a rigid panel 42 by straps 44 that are removably joined together behind back 36 by suitable fastening means such as Velcro fasteners or the like. The height of headrest pads 40 can be adjusted by loosening straps 44, moving panel 42, and then refastening straps 44. The head pads 40 are preferably attached to panel 42 in such manner as to be transversely adjustable; e.g.,' by means of straps which pass around panel 42 and are loose enough to allow pads 40 to be moved transversely to adjust their position.

A chair seat 46 is pivotally attached at 48 to the side cross members 12 and can be raised and lowered by means of adjustable supports 50, which are movable along side cross members 12 and serve to adjustably support the front end of seat 46. The seat 46 is suitably upholstered, as is the back 36, to comfortably support a seated person. Headrest pads 40 are resilient enough to provide comfortable support and-restraint for the seated persons head. The scoliosis pads 38 are also suitably upholstered but are preferably firmer than the back 36 and seat 46. An important purpose of the pads 38 is to apply therapeutic pressure to the seated per sons sides.

One purpose of this invention is to treat curvature of the spine by applying appropriate therapeutic pressure to the seated persons sides as shown in FIG. 3 to provide a therapeutic force couple Fl-F2 which tends to straighten thespine. Restraint of the persons head in the space between head pads 40 coacts with the force couple to increase its effect on the spine. This type of treatment is particularly effective with growing children, and the disclosed embodiment is preferably dimensioned to accommodate children up to age 16. The

. adjustability of the headrest pads 40, back 36, and footrest 22 are preferably sufficient to make it possible for the chair to accommodate younger children down to age 3. The scoliosis pads 38 are accordingly preferably mounted with sufficient lateral and vertical adjustabil- FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 show the details of the mounting structure for thescoliosis pads 38 and the back 36. In this particular embodiment, the scoliosis pads 38 are supported by transverse rods 52 which are slideably mounted in transverse openings 54 in the lower portion 55 of brackets 34 (see FIG. 5) and can be clamped in any desired lateral position by means of adjustment screws 56, which are engaged in threaded openings in the lower portion of brackets 34 below the rods 52 and can be tightened to bear against the bottoms of rods 52. The rods 52 are long enough to provide the re quired degree of lateral adjustability for scoliosis pads 38, whose lateral position can be adjusted by simply loosening adjustment screws 56, sliding pads 38 to the desired lateral position. then retightening adjustment screws 56.

The rods 52 are slideably and rockably attached to scoliosis pads 38 by the attachment means best shown in FIG. 2. A U-shaped metal slide track 58 is rigidly at tached to the outer rear margin of each pad 38 by means of screws or other suitable fasteners which are not shown in the drawings. The slide tracks 58 are vertically oriented and have inwardly bent edges 60 which form slide rails. A flat slide element 62 is held against the inner edge of slide rails 60 by the head 63 of a bolt 64 which extends through an opening 65 in slide element 62. Bolt head 63 and opening 65 key together to hold bolt 64 against turning when slide 62 is engaged in track 58. After the slide element 62 is placed within the slide track'58, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, it is prevented from dropping out the ends of the track by closure clips 66, which are press fitted into the open ends of the track.

The rods 52 are welded at their inner end to crank and support arms 68 which have openings 70 for 'receiving the threaded end of bolts 64. An adjustment nut 72 and washer 74 engage the threaded end of each bolt 64 and clamp the crank arm 68 against the outer edges of slide track 58 while the slide element 62 is clamped against the inner edge of slide rails 60 by the same pressure. Thus tightening the adjustment nut 72 clamps the corresponding assembly in a fixed position along side track 58 with the support arm 68 at an adjustablytixed angle with respect to track 58. The relative vertical positions of the corresponding opposed pads 38 can be adjusted by loosening the respective nuts 72, sliding the pad 38 to the desired position, and then retightening nut 72. By this means the pads 38 may be adjusted to the vertically staggered relationship shown in FIG. 3 to produce the desired therapeutic force couple for different size children. The angle that the back of each pad 38 makes with the vertical is adjusted so that the back edge of pads 38 are aligned with back 36, whose angle is adjustable as described hereinafter. The angular adjustment of pads 38 is accomplished by simply tilting the pads to the desired angle while nuts 72 are loosened and holding them in position while nuts 72 are retightened.

An important feature of this invention is that the I brackets 34 which support the scoliosis pads 38 also support chair back 36 and are slideably mounted on the arms 32 so that the position of the chair back 36 can be conveniently changed to accommodate differentsize children without disturbing the adjustment of scoliosis pads 38. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show one rear corner of the chair, the brackets 34 are box sectioned. Each includes an upper retangular portion 76, which is shaped to slideably engage the top of rectangular arm 32, and a lower rectangular portion 55, which is carried below arm 32 and adjustably supports scoliosis pads 38 as explained previously. A downwardly depending plate 78 forms an inner side of the box section bracket 34 and adjustably supports back 36 as will be explained hereinafter. An outer side 80 of the box section bracket 34 is bent around the bottom of lower portion at 82 to support the same, which is also supported by being welded to the outside of plate 78 at 84 (see FIG. 5). An adjustment screw 86 (see FIG. 4) extends upwardly through each bracket portion 82 and bears against the bottom of arm 32 to lock the bracket 34 in place. When screws 86 are loosened, the brackets 34 can be slid back and forth along arms 32,

- carrying chair back 36 and scoliosis pads 38 with them,

and can then be locked in any desired position along arms 32 by retightening screws 86. Although this invention is not limited to the above-noted type of support brackets 34, they are advantageous and add the desirable features of adjustability for the position of back 36 without altering the relative 38.

Although the chair back 36 could be rigidly attached to supporting plate 78, it is desirable for the angle of back 36 to be adjustable, and this is accomplished by pivotally connecting a corner bracket 88 to each of the plates 78 by means of pins 90, and rigidly connecting the brackets 88 to their corresponding corner of back 36 by means of bolts 92. The brackets 88 can be tilted back and forth around pins 90 to change the angle of back 36, and can be locked at predetermined angular increments by locking pins 94 that each extendthrough an opening in the corresponding bracket 88 and engages one of an arcuate series of openings 96 in support plate 78. The locking pins 94 preferably contain a spring loaded plunger which can be manually withdrawn from the opening 96 that it is engaged in and will then be urged by spring pressure back toward support plate 78 to engage another opening 96. Such a spring loaded plunger is not, however, essential in this embodiment, and any suitable locking pin can be used.

The angular position of back 36 can be limited by means of swingable arms 98 which are pivotally attached at one end to pin 90 by means of cotter pins 100 and are rigidly attached at the other end to one of the openings 96 by bolt and nut stop assemblies 102. When the brackets 88 are rotated far enough to the rear, they contact the stops 102, which limit their further backward rotation and thus limit the backward rotation of back 36. The angle at which the rotation of back 36 is limited can be adjusted by changing the openings 96in which the bolt and nut assemblies 102 are engaged.

Another important feature of this invention is the adjustable footrest 22 which is adapted to hold the seated persons feet flat on the footrest to treat bent ankles. The detailed structure of footrest 22 is shown in FIGS 6 and 7. In this emboidment, the footrest 22 is made of a reinforced plastic body member or plate 104 which is attached by means of cement and/or other suitable fastening means to a curved metal support member 106. A pair of U-shaped clamps 108 (see FIG. 6) are attached to opposite ends of support member 106 and are slideably engaged with corresponding side rails 18 of leg rest 16. Clamps 108 can be clamped to side rails, 18 at any desired location therealong by bolts 109 and nuts 110, which extend between the open portion of the U-shaped clamps 108 and squeeze them against side rails 18 when nuts 110 are tightened. By this means,.the footrest may be firmly attached at any desired location along side rails 18 to adapt the chair for children of differing size.

The upper surface of the footrest body member 104 contains two depressions 112 which are shaped and position of scoliosis pads spaced to receive'the shod feet of a person seated in the chair, as indicated in FIG. 6. A pair of straps 116 are attached at spaced apart location to the back of footrest body member 104 by means of brackets 118 or some other suitable fastening means. Eachof the.

brackets 118 is positioned so as to be behind a corresponding heel portion of the shoe and foot portions 114 of a person seated in the chair so that the straps 116 can be wound around the seated person's ankles 115 as shown in'FlG. 6. The center of the straps 116 are folded over where they are fastened to body member 104 (see FIG. 7) and the folded portion of the straps is held flat against the back of body member 104 by brackets 118. This position allows the straps to be curved to comfortably fit around the seated persons ankles 115.

' The ends of straps 116 are adapted to be attached to each other by means of Velcro fasteners 120 or by other suitable fastening means such'as snaps, buckles or the like. Three spaced brackets 122,124 and 126 are rigidly attached to the upper surface of footrest body member 104 by suitable fasteners and are shaped to-provide openings through which the ends of straps 116 may be passed before being attached to each other as indicated at 128 in FIG. 6. Brackets122 and 126 are mounted on the outside edge of a corresponding foot depression 112 and bracket 124 is mounted between the two foot depressions112 and has two arms and 132, each of which accommodates a strap 116 for a corresponding foot. The brackets 122, 124, and 126 are aligned with the side edges of the body member 104 so as to turn the straps 116 from a'generally longitudinal orientation to a sideways orientation and are positioned. adjacent to the forward portion of recesses 112 so the attached ends 128 of straps 116 will pass across the toe or arch portion of the seated persons foot to generate a force which holds the foot flat on the bottom of depression 112. I

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment is particularly convenient not for the seated person but also for the person or persons who attend the seated person. The chair can be easily moved from place to'place by means of push bar 39 and caster wheels 30. The adjustments for the seat, back, headrest, footrest, and scoliosis pads are all easily accessible and can be quickly and easily adjusted with a person seated in the chair. Moreover, the numerous adjustments make it possible to keep the seated person comfortable all day by changing the position of the back, seat, etc., from time to time.

Although this invention has been described in connection with one illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not limited the disclosed embodiment, since changes can be made 7 in the disclosed structure without departing from the basic principles of this invention. For example, al-

such modifications as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. in a chair having a seat, a back, and means for supporting the same. the improvement comprising a pair of scoliosis pads each adapted to bear against the sides of a human body, and means for mounting said pads adjacent to opposite sides of said chair in such position as to provide therapeutic contact with'opposite sides of a person seated in said chair for treatment of curvature of the spine.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means for each pad is vertically adjustable to permit said pads to be positioned in vertically staggered relationship to develop a therapeutic force couple across said seated persons trunk tending to straighten out said curvature of the spine.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means for each pad is also transversely adjustable. i

4. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said means for mounting each pad includes a support rod attached to said pad, said support rod being transversely movably engaged in a corresponding side portion of said chair for adjusting the transverse position of the corresponding pad, means for clamping each of said support rods to the corresponding side portion of said chair to hold the corresponding pad in a fixed transverse position, a slide track attached to each of said pads and oriented in a generally vertical direction, means for slideably attaching each of said support rods to a corresponding one of said slide tracks for adjusting the vertical position of the corresponding pad, and means for clamping each support rod to the corresponding siide track to hold the corresponding pad in a fixed vertical position.

S. The improvement of claim 2 in combination with a head restraint which coacts with the scoliosis pads to exert therapeutic pressure on the spine.

6. The improvement of claim 5 in which said head restraint comprises pads which embrace the head and means for adjustably positioning said pads with respect to said back.

7. The improvement defined in claim I wherein said chair includes two arms and further comprising a bracket slideably attached to each of said arms. means for attaching said back to said brackets to support the back, means for clamping said brackets to said arms to hold said back in a fixed position, and means for adjustably attaching the mounting means for each pad to a corresponding one of said brackets to adjustably support the pad, whereby a change in the position of said brackets relative to said arms effects said back and said pads by the same amount to avoid changing the relationship between said back and said pads.

8. The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said back is pivotally attached to said brackets and further comprising means for adjusting the angle of said back relative to said brackets and means forclamping said back in a fixed angular position with respect to said brackets.

9. The improvement defined in claim 1 and further comprising a'footrest on said chair, means for supporting the footrest, a pair of straps each attached at its central portion to the rear of the footrest. at spaced apart locations, means for joining the ends of each strap together, and a plurality of brackets each attached to the upper surface portion of the footrest at spaced apart locations and each having an opening therein for receiving one end of a strap to secure the same to said footrest. whereby each of said straps may be wound around a corresponding one of said seated persons ankles and the loose ends secured. to said footrest and to each other to hold the seated persons feet flat on said footrest.

Disclaimer 8,8l5,586.Ra3 m0nd A. Kazz'ic, Milwaukee, Wis. ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR WITH SCOLIOSIS PADS. Patent dated June 11, 1974. Disclaimer filed J an. 9, 1978, by the assignee, Owtholcinetz'cs, Inc. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 of said patent.

[Ofioal Gazette Mamh 21, 1978.] 

1. In a chair having a seat, a back, and means for supporting the same, the improvement comprising a pair of scoliosis pads each adapted to bear against the sides of a human body, and means for mounting said pads adjacent to opposite sides of said chair in such position as to provide therapeutic contact with opposite sides of a person seated in said chair for treatment of curvature of the spine.
 2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means for each pad is vertically adjustable to permit said pads to be positioned in vertically staggered relationship to develop a therapeutic force couple across said seated person''s trunk tending to straighten out said curvature of the spine.
 3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means for each pad is also transversely adjustable.
 4. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said means for mounting each pad includes a support rod attached to said pad, said support rod being transversely movably engaged in a corresponding side portion of said chair for adjusting the transverse position of the corresponding pad, means for clamping each of said support rods to the corresponding side portion of said chair to hold the corresponding pad in a fixed transverse position, a slide track attached to each of said pads and oriented in a generally vertical direction, means for slideably attaching each of said support rods to a corresponding one of said slide tracks for adjusting the vertical position of the corresponding pad, and means for clamping each support rod to the corresponding slide track to hold the corresponding pad in a fixed vertical position.
 5. The improvement of claim 2 in combination with a head restraint which coacts with the scoliosis pads to exert therapeutic pressure on the spine.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 in which said head restraint comprises pads which embrace the head and means for adjustably positioning said pads with respect to said back.
 7. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said chair includes two arms and further comprising a bracket slideably attached to each of said arms, means for attaching said back to said brackets to support the back, means for clamping said brackets to said arms to hold said back in a fixed position, and means for adjustably attaching the mounting means for each pad to a corresponding one of said brackets to adjustably support the pad, whereby a change in the position of said brackets relative to said arms effects said back and said pads by the same amount to avoid changing the relationship between said back and said pads.
 8. The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein said back is pivotally attached to said brackets and further comprising means for adjusting the angle of said back relative to said brackets and means for clamping said back in a fixed angular position with respect to said brackets.
 9. The improvement defined in claim 1 and further comprising a footrest on said chair, means for supporting the footrest, a pair of straps each attached at its central portion to the rear of the footrest at spaced apart locations, means for joining the ends of each strap together, and a plurality of brackets each attached to the upper surface portion of the footrest at spaced apart locations and each having an opening therein for receiving one end of a strap to secure the same to said footrest, whereby each of said straps may be wound around a corresponding one of said seated person''s ankles and the loose ends secured to said footrest and to each other to hold the seated person''s feet flat on said footrest. 